Serving our community.
Food For Families is a great way to get together to make a tangible difference to the lives of individuals and families experiencing hardship and crisis throughout the year. Together, we can help individuals and families put a meal on the table.
Uniting Food For Families
Helping those in need for over 30 years.
Food For Families has been running for over 30 years.
It was started by the local Leader newspaper group in 1991 and ran only at Christmas. Wesley Mission Victoria then took the lead with the aim of generating more material aid to support increasing demand on services, but no increases in funding.
In 2017, Wesley Mission became part of Uniting Vic.Tas, and we’ve continued to run Food For Families under Uniting branding.
And it has gone from strength to strength.
We now collect all year round, not just at Christmas time.
The program brings local communities together to donate non-perishable food and household essential items through collections by schools, kindergartens, congregations, workplaces, community groups, individuals and families.
The food, gifts and household essentials are distributed at our emergency relief, family services and outreach centres across Victoria and Tasmania. Families can select food from our food pantry when times get tough and bills stack up. We also provide food that’s easy to prepare for people experiencing homelessness.
How it works
Non-perishable food and essential household items are donated.
Food and items packed into boxes or bags.
Donations are collected at the nearest Emergency Relief centre. Emergency Relief centre volunteers sort through donated food & items and stock the food pantries.
People in crisis receive support and donated food items, thanks to you.
Get involved
Success stories
Food for friends.
“Of all our programs, Food For Friends is the one which brings together all our churches to remember Christ’s teachings about helping others.”
Success stories
Caring beyond classroom walls.
“The children really get into it....The program opens the students’ eyes to helping other people, not just their own families."
Success stories
Children’s compassion for the community.
“It was so popular we decided it was something we wanted to add to our program every year.”
Success stories
Helping people every day of the year.
“There are people out there doing it really tough right now. We need to band together and show our support.”
Success stories
Christmas countdown making a difference.
I wanted to teach them Christmas is about giving...It’s about thinking of other people who might not be in a fortunate position.
Success stories
Food For Families. Thanks to Michelle.
“Community spirit is still strong, but people are time poor, especially leading up to Christmas. I figured if I co-ordinated things by dropping off and collecting boxes it would make it easier for people to donate.”
Wanting to make a contribution?
If you are looking for other ways to help, please consider making a donation so that we can purchase the items most needed to restock our pantries. Call Supporter Services on 1800 668 426 or donate online.
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